Moving electric sign apparatus



Sept. 26, 1961 F. G. PERKINS MOVING ELECTRIC SIGN APPARATUS Filed Nov.17, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 26, 1961 F. G. PERKINS 3,002,061

MOVING ELECTRIC SIGN APPARATUS Filed Nov. 17, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Sept. 26, 1961 F. G. PERKINS MOVING ELECTRIC SIGN APPARATUS e E@ n 4MM@MAMA/w sew @"Ilwweww u is@ y I. AWA

l INVENTOR.

/JW! @s Sept. 26, 1961 F. G. PERKINS MOVING ELECTRIC SIGN APPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. IW,v 1958 United States Patent C 3,002,061MOVING ELECTRIC SlGN APPARATUS. Forrest G. Perkins, Elsinore, Calif.,assigner to Leonard L. Bishop, St. Joseph, Mich. Filed Nov. 17, 1958,Ser. No. 775,675 19 Claims. (Ci. 200--46) This invention is concernedwith display advertising and the like and is concerned particularly witha moving or animated electric sign.

Moving electric signs are well-known in the art. This invention isconcerned with the type of sign wherein a plurality of electric bulbs orlamps is provided on a display board, and wherein the lamps areselectively illuminated from a control apparatus so as to provide wordsor the like which travel across the board. Signs of this type canpresent a relatively long message and generally are most `successful inattracting the eye of the public after dark. Such signs generally arecontrolled by a coded tape. The tape is provided with openings orapertures therein which correspond to the letters, words, or otherindicia which are to appear on the illuminated board. The tape is passedover a scanning apparatus to complete electrical contacts in accordancewith the apertures in the tape.

The provision of a long message on the tape requires the necessity of along tape. Such tapes may run as much as several hundred feet in length.It is desirable that a message should repeat itself time after time, andto this end it would be desirable if the tape could be continuous.

One object of the invention is to provide tape controlled, movingelectric sign apparatus ofthe above character having an improvedconstruction and mode of operation which afford many functionaladvantages in the use of the apparatus while at the same time minimizingthe manufacturing cost of the apparatus and providing for dependable andtrouble-free operation of the apparatus over a long service life.

Another object is to provide for use with moving electric sign apparatusor the like, which is controlled by an endless tape, tape storage meanshaving a construction and mode of operation that serve in a highlyadvantageous manner to store an extensive segment of an endless tapewhile at the same time providing for continuous circulation of the tapethrough a working zone.

A further object is to provide endless tape storage means, as recited inthe preceding object, that provides at once for highly emcient andadvantageous circulation of an endless tape through a working zone andfor high capacity storage in a small space of a progessively changingportion of the tape, which tape portion can be of extensive andindefinite length.

Another object is to provide improved endless tape storage means of theabove character that is compact and simple in construction and which.achieves many functional advantages through its mode of operation.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide atranscription or a pick-up apparatus for a moving electric sign whereinthe major portion of `an endless coded tape is fed over a conicalsurface into a spiral wound upon itself, the tape being fed into thecenter of the spiral and taken off from the outside thereof, the majorportion of the tape thereby being stored or handled in a very smallspace.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus ascontemplated by the foregoing claims, wherein the endless tape is notforced in any direction, but rather is guided along natural curveswhereby the serv- Patented Sept. 26, 1961 ice ice life of the tape isincreased immeasurably, the tape lasting from a practical standpointalmost forever.

The scanner board or actual pick-up element of prior art moving signapparatus generally has utilized a plurality of feelers or fingersrubbing against the tape and extending through the apertures therein toengage a conductive plate or the like behind the tape for completing thecircuit to illuminate the sign. Such fingers or feelers have had adecided tendency to tear the tape, particularly at the trailing edge ofthe apertures. Furthermore, the feelers or the like have contacted theplate or the like beneath the tape at iixed points, thereby leading topitting and burning of the plate at such points. Such pitting andburning results in unreliable electrical contact, and in short servicelife of the apparatus. Furthermore, to minimize deterioration of thecontacting elements through arcing and the like, it has been necessaryto utilize relatively expensive materials which have not been as welladapted to resist physical wear and abrasion as other materials such assteel.

In order to avoid the foregoing diiculties of the prior art, theapparatus herein disclosed utilizes a scanner board having a pluralityof cooperating balls and rollers. A succession of rollers positionedbeneath the moving tape and the rollers are energized through carbonbrushes. A plurality of balls is provided for contact with each roller,the balls being positioned above the tape, and hence being on theopposite side of the tape from the rollers. Each ball is engaged by acarbon brush. Whenever a punched aperture in the tape passes between aball and roller, electrical contact is established between the ball androller. The rolling contact of the balls and rollers avoids damage tothe tape, and actually is thought to extend the life of the tape. Thereis remarkably little pitting of the balls and rollers, and itis thoughtthat this is due in large measure to carbon particles carried around bythe balls and rollers. Such carbon particles reduce arcing, and whatarcing is present is largely between carbon particles rather thanbetween the balls and rollers.

It has been found that when a moving electric sign apparatus has notbeen used for some time, response is not uniformly reliable. This hasbeen overcome in the present invention by providing an electric heaterfor dispelling moisture which tends to lcondense on the scanner boardduring idle periods, particularly during conditions of high humidity. f

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention willbe apparent from the following description when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the apparatus including an illuminated signboard or the like;

FIG. 2 is a top View of the device or apparatus With the upper portionthereof removed for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal plan view with certain parts brokenaway and taken substantially lalong the line l-i of FIG. 3; i

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view takensubstantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is another fragmentary vertical cross sectional View, takensubstantially along the line 6--6 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional View takensubstantially along the line 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. Sis a view similar to FIG. 7 but taken at right angles theretosubstantially along the line 8*-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal sectional view looking upwards substantiallyalong the line 9-9 of FIG. 7

FIG. is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 10-10in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a detail view of a section of the coded ta e;

IFIG. 12 is a top view of the tape storage device taken generally alongthe line 12-12 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a generally vertical sectional view of the tape storagedevice or mechanism taken substantially along the line 13-.13 of FIG.l2;

FIG. 14 is another generally vertical sectional view of the tape storagemechanism or device taken substantially along the line 14--14 of FIG.12; and

FIG. 15 is a side view of the tape storage device or mechanism takensubstantially along the line 15-15 of FIG. 12.

Referring rst to FIGS. l and 2 for a general understanding oftheinvention, there will be seen an illuminated display board or panel 20.This board or panel is of conventional construction and does notcomprise a part of the invention insofar as the constructional detailsare concerned. YThis board includes a plurality of individually wiredlamps or light bulbs 22. The lamps are arranged in Vertical rows, which,for example, might contain six lamps, and in horizontal rows, which, forexample, might include 50 lamps. It will be understood that this numbercould vary within wide limits, and that each of the lamps 22 mightcomprise a plurality of light bulbs rather than a single light bulbeach. The lamps or light bulbs preferably are of the gas-lled varietywhich light upV and die out instantaneously upon energization to avoidthe formation of tails or trailing lights such as are occasioned by theuse of ordinary incandescent bulbs in such boards. Certain of the lightbulbs are illuminated in FIG. l to spell a portion of the word customerand it will be appreciated that the illuminated bulbs subsequently willbe darkened with the corresponding bulbs immediately to the left thereofilluminated in the same fashion so that the word or words travel fromthe right to the left side of the board and readily may be discerned. Acable 24 is provided which leads from the board for controllingillumination of the bulbs thereon.

The transcription or pick-up or play-back apparatus 26 forming the'subject of the invention may be located at a position remote relative tothe board 20 and includes a coupler board 28 to which the wires of thecable 24 are individually connected. The connections on the couplerboard are individually wired to a plurality of pick-up elements shortlyto be described and forming a part of the scanner board or assembly 30.A hood 32 is hingedly mounted to cover the coupler board and the scannerboard, and the parts heretofore mentioned as forming a .part of theVapparatus 26 are supported on a frame 34 which conveniently can be madeof angle irons. An endless tape 36 is arranged for passage through themachine or apparatus 26in a manner hereinafter to be described.

Adjacent the left end of the machine as viewed in FIGS. l and 2, thereis provided a drive roller 38 that either is made of rubber, or isprovided with a tire of rubber or the like. The shaft of the driveroller 38 is journaled in pillow blocks 40 on the frame and extendsrearwardly of the machine to a coupling 42, the other half of which ismounted on the output shaft of a speed reducer 44. The speed reducer maybe of any known commercial type, for example, a worm and wormwheelarrangement. The input shaft of the speed reducer 44 is coupled at 46 tothe drive shaft of an electric motor 48. The motor 48 is energizedthrough a cable 50 leading from a control unit 52 comprising a pair ofswitches 54 and a timer 56.

A pressure or back-up roller 58 is mounted generally opposite to thedrive roller 38 on a frame part 60 pivotally connected at 62 to the mainportion of the frame 34. The roller 58 likewise is of rubber orrubber-tired construction and is journaled in pillow blocks 64. A spring66 is detachably stretched between a cross member 68 on the hinged frameportion 60 and a cross member 70 on a corresponding xed frame portion inorder to hold the roller 58 tightly against the tape 36 where it'passesover the drive roller 38.

The apparatus or machine 26 is provided at the opposite end of themachine with an idler roller 72 journaled in pillow blocks 74 on theframe. The roller 72 is substantially on the same horizontal level withthe drive roller 38. The remainder of the parts beneath'these tworollers for handling and storing the tape will be describedsubsequently.

The scanner board 30 to which reference previously has been had is shownin detail in FIGS. 3-10 and lies between the rollers 38 and 72. Thescanner board comprises a pair of longitudinal angle irons 76 mounted ona base plate 78 supported by a portion of the machine frame 34. Thescanner board is supported by the machine frame along the back edge ofthe scanner board, so that the tape l36 readily can be inserted andremoved from the machine. A channel-shaped subframe 88 isconnecteddirectly to the frame y34 and is provided with transverse insulatingspacers 82 on which the base plate 78 rests.

A pair of side supports 84 is spaced inwardly from the angle irons 76 bymeans of pairs of spacers 86, and the side members 84 are spaced apartby spacer blocks 88 adjacent their opposite ends. Bolts 90 extendthrough the angle members 76, the spacers 86, the side members 84, andthe spacers 88 to hold the parts together.

Although the side members 84 could be made of metal, it is preferredthat they be made of insulating material in order insulatedly to supportelectrical contact elements as hereinafter will be set forth withoutexposing anyone to the shock hazard that would be present if the sidemembers 84 were made of metal or other conductive material.

Each of the side members 84 is provided with a horizontal row of spacedbores 92. The bores are equal in number of the vertical rows on theboard 20, and the bores of the opposite side members 84 are axiallyaligned. An anti-friction bearing 94 (FIG. 8) is seated in each bore orrecess 92., and the reduced end 96 of a roller 98 is received therein.The rollers are equal in numberto the pairs of recesses, and hence tothe vertical rows of the board 20. The rollers in a speciiic apparatusconstructed in accordance with the principles of this invention are madeof s; inch drill rod, and this preferably is of high carbon steel. Aportion of the tape 36 hereinafter referred to as the horizontal reach100 passes over the rollers 98 between the idler roller 72 and the driveroller 38.

A contact or energizing bar 102 of conductive material whichconveniently can be steel, is mounted on top of an insulating insert 184(FIGS. 5, 7 and 8) extending longitudinally along the center line of thebase plate 78 and extending between the side members 84. The contact bar102 is provided with a plurality of vertical bores or recesses 108opening upwardly beneath the rollers 98, each bore or recess beingaligned with one roller. A helical spring 110` is compressed in eachrecess and urges a carbon brush 112 up against the underside of eachcorresponding roller 98. A lead wire 114 (FIG. 8) is connected by meanssuch as a screw 116 threaded into an aperture in the side of the contactbar 102 to energize the contact bar, and hence through the springs andcarbon brushes to energize all of the rollers 98.

The scanner board 30 includes also a pick-up assembly 114. The pick-upassembly in operative position lies directly above the parts of thescanner board heretofore described. The pick-up assembly comprises asteel frame having front and rear longitudinal bars 116 andtrans-`Vverse bars 118 spaced inwardly slightly from the ends of thelongitudinal bars. YThe transverse bar at the right end is held betweenthe longitudinal bars by means of bolts 120, While the transverse bar atthe left end of the pickup assembly is held in place by shouldered bolts122 (FIGS. 3, 4` and 6). The auxiliary frame members 60 on which thepressure roller 58 is mounted are provided with ears 124, and these earsreceive the shouldered portions of the bolts 122 whereby the auxiliaryframe members 60 and the pressure roller 58 carried thereby can bepivoted out of engagement with the drive roller 58 for replacement oradjustment of the tape 36.

A pair of hinge members 126 is connected to the rear bar 116 in spacedrelation, and also is connected to the side supports or members 86. Agenerally U-shaped handle 128 is provided on the front bar 116 forlifting the pick-'up assembly to pivot the same about the hinges 126from the operative position shown in FIG. 5 in solid lines to the raisedposition shown in dashed lines for replacement or adjustment of the tape36. Bifurcated lugs 130 also are provided on the front bar 116 generallyin alignment with the hinges 126, and pivotally mounted bolts 132 arearranged for positioning in these lugs as shown in solid lines in FIGSL4and 5, or for pivotal movement away from the lugs as shown in dashedlines in FIG. 5. When the bolts 132 are in the solid line position shownin FIG. and wing nuts 134 are tightened thereon, the front and rearframe members 116 rest on top of the longitudinal members 84 and thepickup assemblyis held firmly and rigidly in place.

The pick-up assembly 114 further is provided with a central insulatingblock 136 which may be made, for eX- ample, of Bakelite. The insulatingblock 136 is provided with a plurality of vertical bores 138 (FIGS. 7, 8and l0). These bores are arranged in tarnsverse rows each aligned withone of the rollers 98, and also in longitudinal rows. The bores 138correspond in position to the lamps 22 of the illuminated board 20. Eachof the bores 138 is provided at its lowermost end with a counterbore 140in which there is rollingly mounted a ball 142. The balls 142 areconveniently of the same diameter as the rollers 98, and they preferablyare of a highy carbon steel construction, and may be commercial bearingballs. Between each set of four balls there is provided a washer 144held in place by means of a screw 146 passing through the Washer andthreaded into the insulating block 136 as best maybe seen in FIGS. 9 andl0. The washers have bevelled edges and partially overlie thecounterbores 140 to hold the ball in the counterbores. The washersnecessarily are made of insulating material so that the balls may beinsulated from one another, and nylon has been found to be a preferredmaterial for these washers. It will be apparent that this means ofretaining the balls allows ready removal of a ball for servicing orreplacement without the necessity of loosening all of the balls, whichthen might fall from -the insulating block 136.

A carbon brush 148 is mounted in each bore 138 above and bearing againsteach ball 142. A helical spring 150 in each bore bears down against thecorresponding brush to hold it firmly in engagement with the associatedball. Each brush is provided with a pigtail lead 152 to insure properelectrical contact to -the brush, the upper end of the pigtail beingaixed to a conductive disk 154 mounted in the bore.

The reduced lower ends 156 of a plurality of binding posts 158 arethreaded into ythe top ends of the bores 138. The binding posts -areprovided on the lowermost extremities of the reduced end portions withsmall projections or teats 169 bearing against the disks 158 to insureadequate electrical contact therewith.l The binding posts preferably arenon-circular in cross section, conveniently being hexagonal, tofacilitate threading thereof into the bores 138. Additionally, the topsIof the binding posts are bored and tapped for threadedly. receivingconnecting screws 160, and the non-circular configuration of the bindingposts allows them to be gripped by a wrench While `the screws 160 areremoved to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of the binding posts from thebores 138. Eyelets 162 (FIGS. 7 and 8) are held beneath the heads of thescrews and are connected to lead wires 164, and these lead Wires extendindividually to binding posts 166 (FIG. 1) on the coupler board 28.These binding posts, of course, are individually connected to thesockets for the lamps 22.

The tape 36, as readily may be seen in FIG. 11, comprises an elongatedweb which preferably is made of a heavy jute base paper. The tape isprovided with punched apertures which may be of short length such as at168 for illuminating the vertical portions of the characters to appearon the board 2t). The punched openings also may be longer as at 170 forthe horizontal portions of the characters. The letter "0 will beobserved at 172, while the letter will be observed at 174. As the tapemoves between the balls and rollers, the balls and rollers are insulatedfrom one another by the tape. lEach time one of the punched openingssuch as 168 or 170 passes between a ball and its associated roller, theball contacts the roller. The rollers are at substantially 110 voltselectrical potential by virtue of the wire 114 connected to the contactbar 162, and the plurality of brushes 112 carried by the contact bar andengaging the rollers. Thus, the same electrical potential is applied towhichever ofthe balls 142 engages the rollers through the apertures inthe tape, and this potential is transmitted Aby means of the carbonrushes 148, the pigtails 152, the binding posts 158, the wires 164, andthence to the binding posts 166, these binding posts in turn beingconnected by means of the cable 24 individually to the lamps 22 of theboard 2t?. The lamps of the board thereby are illuminated in accordancewith the punched openings inthe tape. It will be observed that therolling engagement of the balls and rollers with the edges of the tapeprevents tearing of the tape. The tape has been found to last easily 300hours, which approximates a years run, and the tape actually seems tobecome stronger with use, probably through some rearrangement of Vthefibers as the tape is pulled and rolled.

The housing of the contact balls 142 substantially within the insulatingbody 136 and behind the washers 144 protects the balls against oxidationto a large degree. This lack of oxidation of the balls is thought tohelp somewhat in minimizing pitting. Furthermore, the rolling contact ofthe balls with the rollers in large measure eliminates sparking andpitting, inasmuch as the only sparking that occurs is at initial contactwhen a ball enters one of the apertures in the tape, and just as theballs leave the rollers upon reaching the ends of the apertures. It isthought also that carbon granules carried around by the balls and therollers from their respective brushes help to elect an excellentelectrical contact between the balls and rollers without any unduearcing and pitting. In fact, in an experimentalmachine constructed inaccordance with the principles of this invention it has been lfound thatafter three years of operation the rollers need be turned down only .001inch on a centerless grinder to restore them to the sameoperatingcondition as when new. This is not at all in accordance' with theresults that would be predicted with steel-to-steel contact. In additiont0 the lack of oxidation of the balls, and to the possibility ofminimizing arcing and pitting through the transfer of carbon granules,it is thought that the service life of the balls and rollers ismaterially increased by the wiping action of the tape thereon. Thiswiping action tends to polish the rollers and balls, thereby eliminatingany slight pitting effects which might otherwise be formed. Y

The mechanism for handling and storing the tape between the drive roller38 and the idler roller 72 is carried by the frame work 74 beneath theupper portion of the apparatus. This mechanism comprises a bucket orbasket 176 indicated generally in FIGS. 1 and 2, and more specically inFIGS. 12-15. This bucket or basket is tilted as will be apparent fromthe drawings and includes a hub 178 upstanding from a base 180 supportedby cross members forming a portion of the frame 34. A short drive shaft182 is rotatably journaled in the hub 178 and is coupled by means of aclutch 184 to a drive shaft 186 extending up through a bearing andbearing support 188 (FIG. 2) to a pulley 190 on substantially the samelevel as the output shaft of the speed reducer 44. A pulley 192 isprovided on the output shaft of the speed reducer, and an endless belt194 is passed over the pulleys 190 and 192 to drive the shafts 186 and182 in timed relation to the movement of the drive roller 38. Preferablythe speed of shaft 186 is such that the lineal speed of cone plate 232at its smallest diameter is somewhat in excess of the lineal speed ofdrive roller 38 so that the cone plate produces a slight drag or pull onthe tape in operation.

A triangular spider comprising three arms 196, which preferably areequally arcuately disposed, and which extend radially out from the hub178, comprises a portion of the basket or bucket. The spider furtherincludes upturned ends 198 on a pair of the arms 196. These upturnedarms support a generally cylindrical shield or wall 200 to which theends are attached by means such as suitable brackets 202. The generallycylindrical shield or wall 200 is provided with a discontinuity 204starting at 206 and continuing to 208. Beneath this discontinuity thereis provided a plate 210 which may be supported by the third spider arm196, and which is provided with outwardly projecting portions 212 and214. Posts 216 at the opposite ends of the projecting portions 212 and214 extend upwardly past the shield or wall 200 to which they aresecured by any suitable means such as welding, and a pair of posts 218also extends upwardly from the projection portions near the confrontingedges thereof. Plates '220 and 222 which are generally similar inconfiguration to the projecting portions 212 and 214 are secured to thetops of the posts 216 and 218 by means of bolts 224 extending throughthe plates, through the posts, and through the projecting portions, andhaving nuts threaded on each end thereof. These plates serve to supportand stabilize the upper ends of the posts 218.

Within the contines of the generally cylindrical wall or shield 260there is provided a cylinder 226 encircling the shaft 182 and afiixedthereto for rotation by means of a flanged collar 228 having a cross pin230 extending diametrically through the collar and through the shaft.The ange of the collar is aixed to the top wall of the cylinder 226 byany suitable means. 'Ihe cylinder is provided adjacent its lower regionwith a frusto-conical skirt 232 extending downwardly and outwardlytoward the cylindrical wall or shield 200, and having a radiallyoutwardly directed peripheral flange 234 extending beneath the wall orshield.

A curved sheet metal guideway 236 extends from directly beneath thedrive roller 38 down to the bucket or basket 176. The guide 236 startsout in parallelism with the axis of the drive roller 38, and curves andtwists to approach parallelism with the drive shaft 182. A guide flange238 is provided near the bottom edge of the guide 236. The curve andtwist of the guide 236 is such as to guide the tape 36 along a naturalpath from between the guide roller 38 and pressure roller 58 to aposition resting on the cone 232 about the cylinder 226. As the conerotates, the tape works from the center of a spiral coil 246 of the taperesting on the cone 232 and on the flange 234 to the outer surface of aspiral. The tape along the outer portion of the spiral passes out of thebasket or bucket through the discontinuity I204 in the cylindricalshield or wall 200 and between the posts 218.

The tape then passes around a roller 242 supported on the end of theapparatus frame by a bracket 244 at a proper angle to feed the tape fromthe generally vertical position leaving the basket or bucket around theroller 242 to the idler roller 72. A spring plate 24S holds the tapedown against the roller. The angle of the basket or bucket and the angleof the roller 242 are so arranged thatthe tape moves along a naturalpath to the idler roller 72. Thus, no side thrust or pulling forces areimposed on the tape either in moving from the drive roller 38 to thebasket or bucket 176, orl in moving from the basket or bucket over theroller 242 to the idler roller 72, and the service life of the tape thusis materially increased.

It has been found that, when certain atmospheric conditions prevail, theapparatus when left idle from one night to the next will not always workproperly when started up. Specifically, improper contact is made by theballs and rollers and the board therefore does not light up with theproper lamps illuminated to produce the desired characters thereon.Extended investigation revealed that this was due to condensation ofminute amounts of water in the apparatus from humid air. In order tocorrect this condition, an electrical resistance heater 246 (FIGS. 1 and5) has been provided beneath the scanner board to heat the scanner boardfor driving 0E any condensed moisture. This heater also will dry thetape to insure that the tape will have proper insulating characteristics`and will not carry any leakage currents between the rollers and theballs.

Operation of the device should be apparent from the foregoingdescription. The drive motor 48 is turned on and the contact bar 102 isenergized respectively through the timer 56 by pulling the switches 54.(An auxiliary switch is provided for the heater 246, and such switch isnot shown herein.) The tape 36, which has been placed by hand in thebucket or basket by raising the shaft 186 to separate the coupling orclutch 134, is to some extent pushed by the cone 232 and ange 234 out ofthe bucket or basket, and also is pulled therefrom over the rollers 242and 72 by the drive roller 38. Each time one of the openings orapertures 168, 1170 in the tape passes beneath one of the contact balls,the ball enga-ges the corresponding roller and is energized thereby, andacts through the connections heretofore described to energize and thusilluminate the corresponding lamp of the sign board 20.

As has been noted or intimated heretofore, there may be any number ofcontacts within wide variation. In the specific example of the apparatusherein shown and described, there are 300 contacts, six across, and 50length- Wise corresponding to the 300 balls and the 50 rollerscooperating therewith. This number can be changed both as to the numberof rollers, and as to the number of balls per roller, and the number oflamps on the board 20 would be changed accordingly. It will beappreciated that each ball could be electrically associated with aplurality of lamps ron the board, such as four lamps, for example, andthat the number of lamps therefore would be a multiple of the number ofballs and a very large sign thereby would be provided.

'Ihe guide leading to the basket or bucket preferably should beconstructed of stainless steel and waxed for eas-y sliding of the papertape, although this is not necessary for operation. However, it doesmaterially increase the life of the tape. The bucket or basket may varysubstantially in size in accordance with the length of tape to behandled, and 400 or 500 feet of tape, and perhaps more, readily can behandled by the machine.

By virtue of the unique tape handling mechanism herein shown anddescribed, the machine or apparatus is of relatively small size, beingno larger than an ordinary desk. This is an outstanding improvement overthe prior art wherein a rather large-sized room has been necessary forhandling an endless tape. The guide and the guide roller which move thetape along a naturally curved path without imposing stresses thereonlead to long service life of the tape, and preclude tearing or jammingof the tape in operation.

The unique construction of the scanner board including the pick-upassembly allows the use of a steel-to-steel contact which otherwisewould be electrically unfeasible, and which has tremendous advantages inwear resistance.

The completely recessed housing of the balls and associated brushesreduces corrosion of these parts to a minimum. The wiping action of thepaper tape on the balls and rollers, the smooth engagement of the ballsand rollers, the carbon granules carried along by the balls and rollersfrom their respective brushes, and other factors, contribute to longservice life of the rollers and balls with substantially no pitting.

The machine is reasonably simple in construction and is inexpensive toproduce. Furthermore, it has all of the parts thereof readily accessiblefor servicing, although its rugged construction indicates that servicingwould be necessary only at infrequent intervals. For example, it hasbeen found that machining of the rollers to 'remove all traces ofcontact thereof with the balls need be done only every three years, andthat the rollers need only be turned down .001 inch on a centerlessgrinder to restore them to an operating condition undistinguishable fromnew.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No.498,142, filed March 3-1, 1955.

The structure herein shown and described is to be understood as beingfor illustrative purposes only. Various changes in and modifications ofstructure will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art, and are to beunderstood as forming a part of the invention insofar as they fallwithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A tape handling apparatus including a rotary support of generallyconical shape having a radially extending peripheral flange, means forrotating said support at a predetermined rate, means for guiding a tapeonto said conical shaped support generally near the apex thereof into aspiral configuration, a fixed peripheral wall having a discontinuitytherein, and means for guiding tape from said generally conical shapedsupport off of the flange thereof and through said discontinuity.

2. Tape feeding apparatus as set forth in claim l and further includinga curved guide extending above the top of said fixed peripheral wall forfeeding said tape onto said conical shaped support adjacent the apexthereof, said tape being fed from the peripheral flange out through thediscontinuity in said peripheral Wall.

3. Tape handling apparatus comprising a rotary support of conicalconfiguration, means for rotating said rotary support at a predeterminedrate about a generally Vertical axis, a curved chute for feeding tapealong a curved path onto said rotating support generally near the centerthereof whereby said tape assumes the position of a spiral of increasingdiameter on said support and `gravitationally settles toward the outeredge, and means for feeding tape from said rotary support near theperiphery thereof.

4. A tape'handling apparatus as set forth in claim l wherein the axis ofthe rotary support is inclined at an acute angle to the vertical.

5. Tape feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the axis ofthe rotary support is inclined at an acute axis to the Vertical andwherein the guide terminates above a portion of the support approachingthe uppermost'position thereof whereby the tape is fed onto said supportsubstantially at the uppermost position thereof.

6. Tape handling apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the axis ofthe rotary support is inclined at an acute angle to the vertical.

7. A transcription apparatus for a moving electric sign or the likecomprising a bed, feed means arranged at the opposite ends of the bedfor feeding a continuous tape to and across and from the bed, detectingmeans associated With the bed for detecting coded signals from the tapewhile on the bed, tape storage means for storing a quantity of tape in aspiral coil, said tape storage means including a drum having a rotarycoil supporting bottom for controlling the action of the tape in saidstorage means,

and means for driving said feed means and said bottom in predeterminedtimed relation, said driving means being constructed to drive saidbottom in the rotary direction in which a coil supported on said bottomspirals radially outward.

8. A transcription apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said drivingmeans'is constructed to drive said 4bottom rotatably at a rate of speedhigher than the driving speed of said feed means.

9. A transcription apparatus as defined in claim 7 'wherein guide meansis provided for guiding the tape from the feed means to the storagemeans, and from the storage means back to the feed lmeans, said guidemeans having provisions for changing the `direction of movement of thetape.

10. A transcription apparatus for a moving electric sign or the likecomprising a horizontal bed, a feed roller extending across the bed atone end thereof, a feed roller extending across the bed at the other endthereof, said feed rollers being arranged for the feeding of acontinuous tape to and across and from the bed, detecting meansassociated with the bed for detecting coded signals from the tape whileon the bed, and tape storage means comprising a drum below the bed forstoring the tape in a spiral within the drum, said drum having a rotarycone member forming the bottom thereof.

11. A transcription apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the axis ofthe rotary cone is inclined somewhat from a vertical position.

l2; Apparatus for handling an endless tape comprising a frame, anelongated substantially horizontal bed carried by said frame at arelatively elevated position, means carried from said frame adjacentsaid bed for feeding an endless tape longitudinally along said bed withthe tape so fed in substantially horizontal position, tape storage meanscarried by said frame below said bed and substantially within theend-to-end confines thereof, said storage means comprising a rotarysupport member deining an upwardly facing annular support surfaceadapted to support a spiral coil of said tape with the tape in verticalposition, tape coil conning means disposed in general overlying relationto said support surface in gencrally encircling relation thereto tolimit radial expansion of atape coil resting on said support surface,guide means carried by said frame between said bed and said storagemeans for guiding said tape from horizontal to vertical positionfro'rnsaid bed into edge engagement with said support surface at aposition spaced a substantial distance radially inward of said coilconfining means, and guide means lcarried by said frame between saidstorage means and said bed for guiding `said tape from vertical tohorizontal position from said coil confining means to said bed.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the axis of the tapestorage means is tilted from the vertical at its upper end.

14. Apparatus for handling an endless tape comprising a frame, anelongated substantially horizontal bed carried by said frame at arelatively elevated position, means carried from said frame adjacentsaid bed for feeding an endless tape longitudinally along said bed withthe tape so fed in substantially horizontal position, tape storage meanscarried by said frame below said bed and substantially within theend-to-end connes thereof, said storage means comprising a reservoirhaving a cone bottom and being vadapted to store a quantity of said tapewith the tape in vertical position resting on said cone bottom, guidemeans carried by said frame between said bed and said storage means forguiding said tape from horizontal to vertical position from said bed tosaid storage means, said guide means being positioned to feed tape fromsaid bed toward the apex of said cone bottom, and guide means carried bysaid frame between said storage means and said bed for guiding said tapefrom vertical 11 to horizontal position from said storage means to saidbed.

15. Tape storage means for storing a coiled segment of a circulatingendless tape, comprising, in combination, a rotary support memberdefining an upwardly facing annular tape coil support surfacesubstantially concentric with the rotary axis of lthe support member andadapted to support a spiral coil of tape placed on edge on the supportsurface, tape coil expansion limiting means encircling said tape coilsupport surface in generally overlying adjacent relation thereto, saidtape coil expansion limiting means defining a coil braking surfacelocated above the adjacent portion of said coil support surface inposition to frictionally engage the outermost turn of a tape coilsupported by said support surface, means defining a tape outlet openingradially outward through said expansion limiting means, drive meansconnected to rotate said rotary support member, tape inlet guide meanspositioned to direct tape into engagement with said support surface toinitially engage the support surface a substantial distance radiallyinward from said expansion limiting means, and said tape inlet guidemeans being oriented to direct tape onto said support surface in adirection of movement conforming to the direction of movement of theunderlying portion of support surface to continually form on saidsupport surface a spiral coil of tape which spirals outwardly in arotary direction which is the same as the direction of rotation of saidsupport member.

16. Tape storage means for storing a spirally coiled segment of acirculating endless tape, comprising, in combination, a tipped rotarysupport member defining an upwardly facing annular tape coil supportsurface rotatable about a central axis tipped from the vertical, tapecoil expansion limitin-g means defining a generally cylindrical tapecoil expansion limiting and braking surface extending upwardly from saidsupport surface in encircling relation thereto to frictionally engagethe outermost turn of a tape coil supported by said support surface,means defining a tape outlet opening radially outward through saidexpansion limiting means, drive means connected to rotate said rotarysupport member, tape inlet guide means positioned to direct tape intoedge engagement with said support surface to initially engage thesupport surface a substantial distance radially inward from saidexpansion limiting means to continuously form on saidvsupport surface aspiral coil of tape whichspirals outwardly in a rotary direction whichis the same as the direction of rotation of said support member, yandpower driven tape circulating means for pulling tape from said tapeoutlet at a speed less than the peripheral speed of the coil supportvsurface, yand returning the tape tosaid inlet guide means.

17. Means for continuously storing a spirally coiled portion of -acirculating endless tape, comprising, in cornbination, a rotary supportmember defining an upwardly facing annular coil support surface, meanssupporting said support member in a tipped position for rotation aboutan axis inclined away from the vertical, coil expansion limiting meansencircling said support surface to limit radial expansionof a tape coilsupported on said surface, means forming a tape outlet through saidexpansion limiting means, tape inlet guide means positioned to guidetape into edge engagement with said support surface to initially engagethe latter at a position spaced a substantial distance radially inwardfrom said expansion limiting means, said tape Iinlet guide means beingoriented to direct tape onto said support surface in a direction whichdefines the rotary direction in which tape spirals radially outward onsaid support surface to said expansion limiting means, and drive meansconnected to said support member to rotate the latter in said directionin which a tape coil admitted to said support surface by said inletguide means spirals radially outward toward said expansion limitingmeans.

18. Continuously operative transcription apparatus for a moving electricsign or the like, comprising, in combination, a perforated endlesscontrol tape, drive means for continuously moving said tape through adetecting zone, electrical detecting means mounted in |association withsaid tape to electrically sense the perforations in the tape movingthrough said detecting zone, a rotary tape support member dening .anupwardly facing annular support surface which slopes upwardly toward thecenter thereof, a major portion of said endless tape being formed into aspiral coil supported on edge on said annular support surface, drivemeans connected to said support member to rotate the latter in thedirection in which said coil spirals radially outward to effect throughfrictional engagement of said support surface with said coil acontinuous urging of the turns of said coil to expand radially outward,coil expansion limiting means encircling said coil to limit expansion ofthe outermost turn thereof, means defining ya tape outlet through whichthe tape is removed from the outermost turn of said coil, guide meansfor directing tape from said outlet to the inlet side of said detectingzone, and guide meansV positioned to guide tape from the outlet side ofsaid detecting zone into edge engagement with said coil support surfaceto initially engage the latter at the radially inward side of said coil.

19. Continuously operative transcription apparatus for a moving electricsign or the like, comprising, in combination, 'a perforated endlesscontrol tape, electrical tape perforation detecting means, meansdefining a tape inlet to said detecting means and a tape outlet fromsaid detecting means, drive means connected to drive the tape past saiddetecting means at a predetermined speed, a rotary tape support memberdefining an upwardly facing annular support surface, a major portion ofsaid endless tape being formed into a spiral coil supported on saidannular support-surface, said drive means being connected to saidsupport member to rotate the latter in the direction in which said coilspirals radially outward and at a rotary speed which provides a supportsurface speed exceeding said predetermined speed to effect throughfrictional engagement of said support surface with said coil acontinuous urging of the turns of said coil to expand radially outward,coil expansion limiting means encircling said coil to limit expansion ofthe outermost turn thereof, means defining a tape outlet through whichthe tape is removed from the outermost turn ofsaid coil, guide means"for directing tape from said last mentioned tape outlet to said inlet tosaid detecting means, and guide means positioned to guide tape from saiddetecting means outlet into edge'engagement with said annular supportsurface at the radially inward side of saidgcoil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDl STATES PATENTS1,605,222 Deres et al. Nov. 2, 1926 1,844,770 Limenez et al. Feb. 9,1932 2,290,280 Freedman et al July 21, 1942

